Our commissioners have received considerable criticism for changing the transferable development rights plan on the Dolores River. This criticism has been based on opinion not facts.
The continuation of TDRs was a guarantee that only millionaires would be able to develop or build on a new tract of land. Because no market value was ever established for TDRs the few owners of TDRs could hold hostage anyone wanting to develop a tract in the Dolores River valley and possibly control development by pricing those rights beyond reach of ordinary citizens.
Many of the larger tracts in the valley are protected by conservation easements, and many more will be protected as landowners choose to do so. To assume that new development will be rapid & out of control is erroneous,the Dolores River Valley is still protected by planning and zoning regulations and new evaporative septic leach systems, closed systems and systems designed by state engineers are much better than in the past.
Those who have complained the most and the loudest simply want to control what someone else has bought and paid for. Landowners pay a premium for what they own when they get a yearly notice from the tax assessor.
Jerry Koskie
Lewis
